You'd have to take that up with my dearly departed grandfather. I believe him. He was there.

It's likely he was there, and his hearing wasn't actually as bad as he recalls in 42-45.

The vast majority of my service related injuries have gotten worse with time. (except for one that got better, don't ask me how that got better, but it seems that it has)

I expect to be legally blind by the time I'm in my late 50s.
did the injury occur during service? yes. But didn't preclude me from continuing service.
I had an M1 fire it's cannon not far behind me (maybe 35-50 meters) the chock wave knocked the wind out of me and made my ear drums bleed.
Later, My ear drum on the right ear bled again from firing two TOW missiles in relatively quick succession.
I always passed annual hearing exams back then.
Now, you can walk up on my right side from behind and startle the heck of me, because I can't hear you approach.

Service related injury?
Undoubtedly.

But it certainly wasn't as bad then as it is now.

If it tell this story when Im 70, it will be like telling it 500 times, so Ill probably just shorten it to, "I lost my hearing in Desert Storm, Lost my sight in Africa, and ETS'd from the Army just after 9/11" and people will be like huh?? How did a deaf blind guy serve in the army for years?

That's just the reality of 70 year old men, telling the story for the 499th time, 45 years after it happened.

It's likely he was there, and his hearing wasn't actually as bad as he recalls in 42-45.

The vast majority of my service related injuries have gotten worse with time. (except for one that got better, don't ask me how that got better, but it seems that it has)

I expect to be legally blind by the time I'm in my late 50s.
did the injury occur during service? yes. But didn't preclude me from continuing service.
I had an M1 fire it's cannon not far behind me (maybe 35-50 meters) the chock wave knocked the wind out of me and made my ear drums bleed.
Later, My ear drum on the right ear bled again from firing two TOW missiles in relatively quick succession.
I always passed annual hearing exams back then.
Now, you can walk up on my right side from behind and startle the heck of me, because I can't hear you approach.

Service related injury?
Undoubtedly.

But it certainly wasn't as bad then as it is now.

If it tell this story when Im 70, it will be like telling it 500 times, so Ill probably just shorten it to, "I lost my hearing in Desert Storm, Lost my sight in Africa, and ETS'd from the Army just after 9/11" and people will be like huh?? How did a deaf blind guy serve in the army for years?

That's just the reality of 70 year old men, telling the story for the 499th time, 45 years after it happened.

Not sure how it was back then, but if it's anything like it is now, theres waivers for everything.

No high school diploma? No problem!
Colorblind? No problem!

As long as you can sign on the dotted line when *they need you*, then your good to go!

As far as your ears bleeding...well...I think you have some weak ear drums. I've had far worse and my friends have had far worse, ours never bled. Just out of curiousity, have you seen combat? And being deployed to a combat zone isn't actual combat.

Not sure how it was back then, but if it's anything like it is now, theres waivers for everything.

No high school diploma? No problem!
Colorblind? No problem!

As long as you can sign on the dotted line when *they need you*, then your good to go!

As far as your ears bleeding...well...I think you have some weak ear drums. I've had far worse and my friends have had far worse, ours never bled. Just out of curiousity, have you seen combat? And being deployed to a combat zone isn't actual combat.

Have I seen combat?
That's kinda of a dumb question.
Yes.
On multiple continents.

We didn't have taco bell and starbucks in the TOC when I did my service either…so lets not get "high speed" before we start matching up service records.

Here is a list of just some of the USA made parts used in the King Cobra. This mower cuts beautiful and can run at 12mph. I just got another set of blades for it and they are the same as Exmark, so pretty cheap.

Not sure how it was back then, but if it's anything like it is now, theres waivers for everything.

No high school diploma? No problem!
Colorblind? No problem!

As long as you can sign on the dotted line when *they need you*, then your good to go!

As far as your ears bleeding...well...I think you have some weak ear drums. I've had far worse and my friends have had far worse, ours never bled. Just out of curiousity, have you seen combat? And being deployed to a combat zone isn't actual combat.

Not anymore. Soon the total active force will be its smallest post WW2. Guys with 15 years active are being denied re ups. All branches will be taking only the best. Meaning high grades, no health issues, no criminals. Everything is being cut back. The biggest debacle will be the F35 that will never be what they try to make it be.Posted via Mobile Device

Here is a list of just some of the USA made parts used in the King Cobra. This mower cuts beautiful and can run at 12mph. I just got another set of blades for it and they are the same as Exmark, so pretty cheap.

Now all they have to do is manufacture the steel in the US and I'll shut up.